South African observers put under pressure

By Peta Thornycroft and Anton La Guardia

12:01AM GMT 11 Mar 2002

THE South African government is pressuring its official election observers to declare Zimbabwe's presidential election free and fair, despite continuing evidence of violence and intimidation yesterday.

As most polling stations closed for the night with many thousands of people still queuing to cast their ballots, there were accusations that voting in the opposition's urban strongholds had been deliberately slowed down to assist the re-election of President Mugabe.

Several sources among the election monitors said the South African police minister, Steve Tshwete, tried to persuade observers that the elections in Zimbabwe were "credible" and "legitimate".

"We feel uncomfortable," said one South African observer yesterday. "The pressures are going to be enormous."

Before the close of voting, the head of the Nigerian observer team said he was "particularly impressed" by the conduct of the election despite some "skirmishes".

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"It was very, very peaceful in all the areas my team visited," said Ernest Shonekan, a former Nigerian head of state. "It will be very difficult for anybody to come and tell us that it was not free and fair."

It will be South Africa's judgment which is most influential. Southern Africa's regional power has sent two monitoring teams, one from the government and the other from parliament.

There have been clear signs that the government is planning to back Mr Mugabe. Aziz Pahad, deputy foreign minister, has called on South Africa's press to stop "demonising" the Zimbabwean leader.